Tool for high-tension lines



July 4, 1944 B. B. BRQADBooKs 2,352,686

TOOL FOR HIGH TENSION LINES vFiled June 5, 1942 s sheets-Sheena July 4, 1944.y

' B. B. BRADBooKs TOOL FOR HIGH TENSION LINES Filed June 5, '1942 25l Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

TOOL FOR HIGH-TENSION LINES Byron B. Broadbooks, McPherson, Kans., assignor to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of` Missouri Application Junen, 1942,' Serial No. 445,975 1 Claim. (Cl. 81-53) The present invention relates to tools for high tension lines and is particularly concerned with tools of the type called clamp sticks for applying or removing hot wire clamps to energized conductors and for many other uses.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved clamp stick which is adapted to hold the eye screw of a hot wire clamp so securely that there is absolutely no possibility of the clamp becoming detached from the clamp stick during the manipulation of the hot wire clamp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of Van improved clamp stick having a head which is adapted to be brought into rm engagement with the body of a hot wire clamp so that the hot wire clamp may be twisted to bend the ground wire or other lead to which it is connected so as to bring the clamp into proper position for application to an energized conductor or, in some cases, the operator may merely twist the clamp stick to bend the lead into a helical form so that its slack will be taken up and the clamp will be held by the lead wire in such a position that it is out of danger.

vAnother object of the invention is the provision of an improved clamp stick having a head for engagement with the body of a hot wire clamp andan element for engaging the eye of the eye screw of the hot wire clamp which may also be used for holding energized conductors, cables or tools, and which is adapted to effect an automatic grip of any of the things which are in its grasp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved clamp stick, the head of which may be manufactured very economically and with the use of a minimum amount of material so that the stick may be constructed at a low cost and placed within the price range of a vast number of users. Another object of the invention is the provision of a hot wire clamp stick having spring means for automatically actuating its elements into securing position and having the spring enclosed in a tubular housing which is freely swiveled on the lower end of the clamp stick so that no strain may be placed upon the relatively slender actuating rod located inside the pole of the clamp stick in twisting the clamp stick.

Another object of the invention is the provi- Ysion of a clamp stick of the class described having a latching member or securing means so arranged that the clamp stick parts may be latched in position to hold the hot wire clamp or so that the partsof the stick may be secured in vany of a plurality of different positions.

Other objects and advantages ofl the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

`Referring to the three sheetsl of drawings accompanying the specification, i K' I j Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a clamp stick embodying: the invention shownV in connection with a hot wire vclamp in such position that the clamp body is rmly engaged by the stick;

Fig. 2 is` a fragmentaryleleva'tional viewfof the upper end ofy the clamp 'stick andthe hot wire clamp with'the parts inthe saineposition;

Fig. 3 is another elevationalviewlof ,theclamp with a sectional view of th'estickshowing the parts of the clampstick in two positions;

Fig. 4 isa rear elevational view of the clamp and clampv stickwith thestructure of 4thehead partially broken away in the same position as Fig. 2i

Fig. 5 'isa vertica1 sectional Viewv showing the details of structure of the lower end of the clamp stick and a rear'view of the eyescrew of the clamp inside Vthe upperendjof the stick;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. `z'looking in the direction of the arrows; f

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on theplane of the line 'l-'l vof Fig. 2 looking in the' direction of the arrows; l'

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8 8 of Fig. 5 looking 'in' the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a view similar toFig. 5 but showing only 'the lower end of a modified form of the clamp stick; 1 y

Fig. 10 .is a view similar to Fig. 9'with the parts in a different position which they assume when the hook of the clamp stick is inthe dotted line position. of Fig. 3 and arranged'A Vfor universal driving movementof the eye screw by means of the clamp stick; and 1 Y Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower end of thejclamp :stick of Fig. 10'.

Referring toA i'lhelrdrawings,j 20 indicates in its entirety a clamp stick embodying the.. invention which is shown in connectionwith a hot wire clamp 2l clamped on a conductor 22."4 The hot wire clamp carries'a lead 23. such as, for example, a conductor for grmvinding the line.

I` desire `it to be underswodthat the'V present clamp stick maybe used with all kinds lof` hot groove for engaging the lower side of the con-y ductor. The upper clamping member is provided with a threaded bore 28 for engaging th threaded portion 29 of an eye screw 36.

The shank of the eye screw passes freely through a cylindrical bore 3| in the lower clamping member 24 and is preferably provided with a pair of annular flanges 32, 33 defining a groove 34.

Below the annular member 33 the shank of the eye screw is frusto conical at 35 and cylindrical at 36 and at its lower end the eye screw is provided with an eye 31 so that it may be engaged by a clamp stick or other convenient tool.

The body 24 of the hot wire clamp 2| is provided with a depending lug 38 for the purpose of engagement with shoulders on a clamp stick or for engagement in a recess in the end of the clamp stick so that the clamp stick may be used to turn the body of the hot wire clamp.

In other embodiments motion of the clamp may be prevented by engagement of its body with the oval walls of the sleeve.

Lug 38 also serves to support a screw bolt 39 which is threaded into a threaded bore in the lug 38 and projects into the slot 34 of the eye screw 39 to prevent axial motion of the body 24 on the eye screw.

Clamping member 25 is provided with a pair of depending guide lugs 40, one on each side of the clamping member or body 24, and the guide lugs 40 also have a flat forward surface 4| for engaging the jaw portion 42 of the body 24. Jaw portion 42 may be elongated beyond the sides of the body 24 and may have a rear at surface 43 for engaging the guide lugs 40.

The upper clamping member 25 is also preferably provided with a rearward extension having a through bore 44 which communicates with a threaded bore 45 having a screw bolt 46 threaded into it.

Bore 44 is for the purpose of a connector which receives the lead wire 23 which is clamped in the bore bymeans of the screw bolt 46.

In the'use of the hot wire clamp a lead is irst secured in the bore 44 of the connector 41 and then the hot Wire clamp is mounted on the clamp stick and it may be applied to an energized wire by the clamp stick.

The clamp stick which forms the subject of the invention preferably comprises an elongated insulating pole 48 of well-dried wood or similar material. The pole is preferably provided with a through-bore 49 Which may be of any desired shape but is preferably rectangular in shape so as to prevent rotation between an inner actuating rod 50 and the outer pole 48.

As the poles of such clamp sticks are sometimes made of considerable length, the outer pole 48 is preferably made of a plurality of sections such as halves or quarters which are grooved to provide grooves which will form the rectangular aperture 49 and thereafter the parts of the pole are glued together with suitable wood glue such as casein glue. The casein glue is also of adequate insulating value when used in connection with the wood and does not detract from the insulating value of the pole.

At its upper end the pole 48 is provided with a clamp stick head 5| which may consist of a cylindrical sleeve of sheet metal such as a steel pipe. The steel pipe or head 5|'may be of cylindrical shape at its lower end portion 52 and it is secured on the end of the pole 48 by a tight frictional iit, the pole being reduced in size, ii necessary to be received in the end portion 52.

Pole 48 may be secured to the head 5| by a plurality of wooden screws 53 extending through apertures in the sleeve 5| and threaded into the wood of the pole 48.

The upper end of the steel sleeve 5| is preferably formed into substantially cruciform shape by pressing inwardly extending ribs 54, 55, 56, 51, in the sides of the initially cylindrical steel tube.

This forms grooves in the outer surface of the sleeve 5| at each of the ribs 54-51 and shapes the opening and a substantial portion of the length of the sleeve at its upper end so that it has a substantially cruciform shape with rounded corners.

For example, the ribs 54 and 51 and the ribs 55 and 56 are closer to each other than are the ribs 54 and 55 or the ribs 51 and 56.

Thus, the inner surface of the steel tube adjacent its upper end portion is formed with a pair of longitudinally extending grooved portions 58 and 59 opposite to each other. The initially cy-` lindrical steel tube is also slightly flattened in such direction as to bring the grooved portions 58, 59 closer to each other, leaving the main por-- tion of the opening 60 in the end of the steel tube oval in shape (disregarding the variations caused by the grooves 58, 59).

The side walls of the steel tube 5| at its upper end are also preferably grooved by cutting away' part of these side walls at the upper end of the tube on the sides which are the smallest sides of the oval opening 60. Thus, inwardly extending grooves SI, 62 are provided in the end of the clamp stick head, the purpose being to hold in the groove transmission line conductors or other energized wires or some types of tools having small shanks.

The depth of the grooves 6|, 62 can be observed in Figure 5 or in Figure 3 and it will be observed that the grooves 69, 6| are adapted to register with a hook 63 (Fig. 3) when the hook is drawn down into the sleeve. A

The purpose of the approximate cruciform shape of the end of the sleeve is best shown in Fig. '1 where it will be seen that the hook 63 extends transversely of the oval opening 60 so thatit may pass through the eye of an eye screw ofthe hot wire clamp when the hot wire clamp has its depending lug 38 received in one of the grooves 59. This is the position of the hot wire clamp shown in Fig. 2, the clamp being drawnV d'own into the sleeve until it is fixedly secured to the clamp stick by its engagement in the sleeve.

The oval opening 60 is adapted to receive various sizes of eyes of the eye screws carried 'by hot wire clamps or other equipment used on high voltage transmission lines, and it will be observed that there is ample room inthe opening 60 of the clamp stick head (Fig. 7) to receive even larger eyes than that illustrated on the clamp 2|.

The insulating poles 48 may, of course, be made of any convenient length, the length being dependent upon theA use to which the pole is to be put and the voltages with which it is intended to operate.

y The hook 63 may consist of a partially spherical hook portion 64 carried by a straight shank |55. The shank 65 may be soldered, welded, or threaded into a metal sleeve 06, which preferably has a rectangular shank portion for engaging in the rectangular bore 49.

' Thus the turning effort or torque necessary to actuate the eye screw 30 is exerted by means of the hook 63, square shank 66, and engagement of the square shank 66 with the walls of the lsquare bore 49 in the wooden handle 48.

At its lower end the handle 48 is preferably provided with an actuating member 10 in the form of a sleeve which is open at its upper en 1| and closed at its lower endl12. I

In the embodiment of Fig.` 5 vthis sleeve is of metal, and its upper open end is slidably mounted on the wooden pole 48. The inner diameter of the sleeve is sufficient to receive the circular pole 48 with a sliding fit. Y The closed lower end of the sleeve 10 is provided with an aperture 13 for receiving the threaded end 14 of a metal tting 15, which is mounted on the lower end of the wooden rod 50. This tting comprises a cylindrical body 16, which is secured on the wooden rod 50 by means of a transverse rivet 11 passing through the tting and rod.

At its lower end the cylindrical sleeve 16 has the threaded shank 14 of reduced size, and the shank is preferably provided with an intermediate cylindrical portion 18 adapted to be rotatably mounted in the bore 13 of the sleeve 10.

' The nut 19is driven home against the annular shoulder 8|) between the cylindrical portion 18 and the threaded portion 14, and there is suicient clearance between the nut 19 and the `annular end 8| of the fitting 15 to permit the sleeveor actuating member 10 to rotate freely on the rod 50.

, This positively prevents the operator from using the sleeve 10 for twisting the hook 63, as the sleeve 10 turns freely when any torque is exerted upon it. The operator must exert his twisting effort by means of the pole 48, which is adapted to withstand the torque and to transmit it to the inetal shank B6. Thus the mounting of the sleeve r 10 for free rotation on the rod 50 relieves it of 'any twisting effort, and the rod is used solely for advancing or withdrawing the hook 63.

-The rod assembly, including its associated hook and tting 15, is preferably longer than the pole 48 Yso that the rod fitting 15 projects below the end 82 of the pole 48. The pole 48 is preferably provided with a cylindrical counterbore 83, terminating in an annular shoulder 84 and adapted to house a helical coil spring' 85.

A1; one end the coil spring 85 Ybears on the 'shoulder 84, and at its other end it bears on the end 8G of the sleeve 1|). The endr88 of the sleeve 10 is preferably recessed and provided with .I ffrusto-conica1 wall 81 so that the nut'19 is enclosed in the recess 88. v

The spring 85 surrounds the-rod `50 and urges the sleeve 10 and the rod which carries it downward in the bore 49 of the pole 48. Thus the hook 83 is constantly pulled inward by the spring 85, and the 'hook tends to grasp any object to which it is'applied and to draw that object into the clamp stick head 5| or against the end surfaces of the clamp stick head. ""For example, vin'Fig. 2; the eye screw 31 of the hot wire clamp 2| has been drawn into th clamp stick-'head '5|'.The body 24 of the hot wire. clamp engages in the end of the sleeve 5|. In this position the hot wire clamp and clamp stick are firmly secured to each other so that the clamp itself may be rotated to twist the grounding lead or other wire which is attached to it at the connector 41.V

The spring automatically holds the hot wire clamp against the clamp stick head. The operator may,A however, grasp the pole 48 in one hand and the sleeve 10 in another and push upward on the lsleeve 10.

The hook 63 emerges from the clamp stick head 5| so that the hook may be unhooked, as

shownin Fig. 3. After the hot wire clamp has been mounted on a conductor 22, it is only necessary for Vthe operator to pull downward on the pole 48,*the hot wire clamp reacting by pulling on the conductor 22, and with one hand the clamp stick ir'iay be pulled down until the parts reach the `dotted line position of Fig. 3,'where half of the hook extends from the clamp stick head and the eye screw is practically out of the clamping position.A t

In this position the hook engages the eye screw 'with a universal movement, and the eye screw may be driven home to clamp the clamp on the conductor, even though the stick extends at an angle.

In some embodiments of the inventionv no further securing devices need be employed, as the spring automatically urges the hook into securing position, and the various other positions are attained by the use of the hands, as described.

In other embodiments of the invention the clamp stick may be provided with securing devices for holding it in any of the positions mentioned or'any other of a plurality of different positions. Thus in Fig. 5 the sleeve 1,0 has been provided with a metal band 89, which may be soldered or otherwise secured to the metal sleeve 10 at the left side, as indicated at 90.` The band 89 is actually of similar structure to a hose clamp,

- and its clamping shoe 9| is driven by'a threaded member 92, which is rotatably mounted in a nut The nut 93 is engaged by the band 89, and the sleeve 10 is provided with a slot 94 so that when the threaded member 92 is driven'inward the shoe 9| is drawn inward by the band 89 and the shoe 9| engages the wooden pole 48.

Thus the sleeve 10 and handle 48 may be clamped in any of the positions mentioned.

Such securing devices are of particular importance where it is desired to clamp the parts of the clamp stick rmly in the position of Fig.' 2 or'the dotted line position of Fig. 3. y

Referring to Figs. 9 to 11, here the clamp stick has been provided with a pivoted latchingr member 95.` lIn this case a metal band"96is. mounted on the sleeve 10, and its ends are bent into'radial position substantially parallel to each other at 91, 98.-

A screw bolt 99 passes through the flanges 91, 98 and through the latch 95, which is-pivotally mounted on the bolt. A spring |00 has oneend laterally bent at |0| to engage the sleeve'10,` and the spring is wrapped around the bolt 99 and has its opposite end extending tangentially at |02 and laterallybent at |03 to embrace the arm |04 of the latch 95. The latch 95 may have a circular body provided with the two radially projecting arms |04, |05.

- The Varmiv |04 serves to engage the springarm |00, while the arm |05 serves as the latching shoulder. The arm |04 has the additional function of serving as a stop at the point |06, which engages the side of the wooden pole 48 through a slot |01 in the sleeve 10.

The pole 48 is provided with a slot or aperture |08 to receive the latching arm |05, and the operation of this latch is as follows: When it is desired to dispense with the latch, the sleeve 'l0 may be rotated on the pole 48 until the arm |05 does not register with the aperture I 08.

To do this the latch 95 must be pivoted counterclockwise against the spring until the arm |05 is withdrawn from the aperture |08, and this may be done by grasping the sleeve 10 and exerting a downward pull on the rod 48. The downward pull on the rod 48 will cause the upper wall of the bore |08 to engage the arm |05 and pivot it downward or in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 10.

The motion of the pole 48 automatically places the aperture |08 in such position to give proper clearance for rotation of the latch arm |05. When the pole 48 has been slid downward in the sleeve 10 until the latch arm |05 rides on the outside of the pole 48, the sleeve I may then be rotated on the pole to bring the latch 95 out of registry or alignment with the aperture |08.

Thereafter the relative motion of the pole and sleeve in an axial direction will not be affected by the latch, as the latch will slide on the side of the pole. Any number of latching shoulders for the different positions may be provided in the pole 48.

The aperture |08 is preferably located in such position that the rlatch 95 may secure the parts of the clamp stick in the dotted line position of Fig. 3. The spring 85 automatically holds the parts in the position of Fig. 2 so that no latch is required for that position. v

The full line position of Fig. 3 is that of the release or engagement of the hook with the hot wire clamp, whi'ch is only used momentarily, while engaging or disengaging the stick from the clamp. Therefore, the only position in which a latch might be deemed necessary or desirable is the dotted line position of Fig. 3, where the eye screw of the-clamp is being actuated; and in the absence of a latch it is necessary to exert a pull on the pole, as well as a rotative movef ment.

In this position of the parts the spring is urging the pole upward and the sleeve downward. The latch 95 should, therefore, be arranged so that its arm engages the lower wall of the aperture |08, when it is in the latching position of Fig. 10. In this position it resists the action of the spring 85 by virtue of the fact that the latch 95 must rotate in a clockwise direction to eifect a release, but such rotation is prevented by the engagement of the arm |04 with the pole.

The latch 95 is thus adapted to be manipulated by means of the sleeve and can be released by pushing upward on the sleeve and downward on the pole. The parts may be secured in the dotted line position of Fig. 3 so that the operator .need only rotate the stick to drive the eye screw. In this position the free end of the hook ex- .tends close to the end of the sleeve so that the eye cannot get off the hook, and there is absolutely no danger of release of the hot wire clamp.

There is, of course, no danger of the release of the hot wire clamp, even when the operator is utilizing a pole without the latch because the spring automatically tends to draw the eyeinto (lil the clamp stick head when the operator releases his pull on the stick. Naturally, the hook will not become disengaged as long as there is a pull on it because the pull urges the eye into the hook in such manner that it stays hooked and the pull is constantly exerted by the spring. k

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved clamp stick, the structure of which is simple, as the head may be constructed out of ordinary metal tubing, which may Ibe stamped or vpressed into the formation desired. No cast-4 ings are necessary, and the hollow wooden handle may be made by gluing grooved parts together.

The location of the actuating rod inside the handle serves to protect and house the rod against dirt and external moisture and dispenses with the necessity for having extra guides on the outside of the wooden pole. While the actuating rod is not on the outside, where it is readily visible, the condition of the tool can be checked by mere-A ly removing one nut and withdrawing the wooden rod from. the pole so that it may be wiped free of any moisture and kept in the best condition.

If desired, the upper end of the pole 48'may be provided with a rubber packing ||0, having Van aperture for slidably engaging the metal shank 66. The rubber packing ||0 may be secured to the end of the pole by a metal cover plate ||2 and wood screws ll3. Such clamp sticks should, however, be kept dry by housing them in special metal containers, which are frequently constructed out of galvanized metal, such as a down spout so that moisture is excluded from the outside or the inside of the pole, and the container itself is preferably removed from the truck with its clamp sticks and placed in a warm dry place in the shop, when the clamp sticks are not being used or carried about on the truck. y

The clamp sticks should never be laid on the ground, but should be replaced in a waterproof container whenever they are not being used, and there is thus virtually no danger of any dirt or moisture getting into the inner actuating rod, when proper care is taken of the clamp stick.

The presentl clamp stick is peculiarly adapted to be used to grasp a conductor by means of the hook 63, which can ibe drawn down into the sleeve until the conductor is located in the slots 6|, 62 and held there by the hook and spring. Various types of tools having a shank of appropriate size may also be grasped by the clamp stick and held in the grooves 6|, 62. The stick may, of course, also be used for pulling switches and fuses and for myriad other purposes.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus 'described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

In a clamp stick for high tension lines, the combination of an elongated wooden handle comprising a plurality of sections, the joints between the sections extending longitudinally of the handle and said sections being provided with opposed grooves whereby the handle is provided with an axially extending bore, an elongated wooden rod located in said bore, said rod carrying at its upper end a metal fitting provided with a hook for securing a conductor or a hot wire clampa head carried by said elongated wooden rod, spring meanscompressed between said elon- 1u gated wooden handle and saidsecond sleeve' for urging said hook into said head, and securing means carried by said second sleeve for securing the second sleeve in any of a plurality of different positions, said second sleeve being mountedvk for lfree rotation on the lower end of said Wooden rod y,iwi-hen said securing means is released to relieve said wooden rod of twisting strains.

BYRON B. BROADBOOKS. 

